yellowstone

[samandberta]

we are going from Florida to Yellowstone and points in between in May, planning on staying in Cody Wy.to see Yellowstone. Last stop before heading to Cody will be Abq. N.M. What would be the best route to go and how bad will it be going through mountains with a 30' MH pulling a toad?

Thank you in advance for your answers,
Sam

[samandberta]

Thank you for all the good information. looking forward to the trip.
Sam

[bigdogger]

vikrv wrote:

bigdogger wrote:

vikrv wrote:
If folks are looking for a less crowded Yellowstone experience consider visiting in the winter using snowmobiles. Of our 3 Yellowstone visits 2 have been in the winter on snowmobiles. We were skiing in Big Sky, Montana and did Yellowstone as a day trip. Our shuttle bus dropped us off in West Yellowstone for snowmobile gear and then we drove through the streets of W Yellowstone into the park entrance. The first time started out a bit cold at -20F and snowing but warmed up to 0F and the sun came out. The upper geyser basin was even more surrealistic with all the snow. Our 2nd trip on snowmobiles we headed up to Mammoth Hot Springs. Great wildlife viewing with bison and elk as they are hanging around the thermal features.

About 40X more visitors in the summer months than the winter: stats

If you haven't been recently, be aware there have been major changes in the rules regarding snowmobiling in the park. You are now required to be part of a guided tour and the machines are required to be "Best Available Technology" which means 4 stroke engines, which are quieter, cleaner and much less powerful by weight. For an adrenaline junkie like me, worthless. Might as well take a snowcoach tour if all you can do is be part of a group where the slowest person controls what happens. If you get stuck with a person who has to stop and photograph every raven, chickadee or pine tree, the trip closely resembles a trip to a dentist who doesn't believe in novocaine. Thankfully, you can still ride the hundreds of miles of trails outside the park unmolested.

The new rules allow for one unguided group of 5 snowmobiles per day in addition to guided tours.

That said I'm glad adrenaline junkies like you are no longer interested in going into the park and passing other people at 80 MPH. You wreck it for others who want to have a relaxing time. The park rangers were out with their radar detectors even in winter.

You are not entitled to be there, there is plenty of raceway for you elsewhere.

Yep, so if you have a party of six, it guided or nothing. Also, those 5 machines still have to be BAT, so your personal sled is no good. I toured the park many times before the new law and never found the need to exceed the speed limit, but I liked being able to accelerate and skip over the inevitable washboard rutting that occurs. Can't do that with a BAT, they are much heavier and require higher speeds to get on plane. I also made the mistake of taking a guided tour two years ago and had one of those people who wanted to stop every quarter mile and who was afraid to go over 15 miles per hour. Through no fault of the guide, it was the worst trip into Yellowstone I have ever taken. But the Greenies got their wish, they have effectively gotten my to stay away in the winter. And you can bet that they won't stop with winter visitors, they will come gunning for the summer tourists as well. Just give it time.

[RambleOnNW]

bigdogger wrote:

vikrv wrote:
If folks are looking for a less crowded Yellowstone experience consider visiting in the winter using snowmobiles. Of our 3 Yellowstone visits 2 have been in the winter on snowmobiles. We were skiing in Big Sky, Montana and did Yellowstone as a day trip. Our shuttle bus dropped us off in West Yellowstone for snowmobile gear and then we drove through the streets of W Yellowstone into the park entrance. The first time started out a bit cold at -20F and snowing but warmed up to 0F and the sun came out. The upper geyser basin was even more surrealistic with all the snow. Our 2nd trip on snowmobiles we headed up to Mammoth Hot Springs. Great wildlife viewing with bison and elk as they are hanging around the thermal features.

About 40X more visitors in the summer months than the winter: stats

If you haven't been recently, be aware there have been major changes in the rules regarding snowmobiling in the park. You are now required to be part of a guided tour and the machines are required to be "Best Available Technology" which means 4 stroke engines, which are quieter, cleaner and much less powerful by weight. For an adrenaline junkie like me, worthless. Might as well take a snowcoach tour if all you can do is be part of a group where the slowest person controls what happens. If you get stuck with a person who has to stop and photograph every raven, chickadee or pine tree, the trip closely resembles a trip to a dentist who doesn't believe in novocaine. Thankfully, you can still ride the hundreds of miles of trails outside the park unmolested.

The new rules allow for one unguided group of 5 snowmobiles per day in addition to guided tours.

That said I'm glad adrenaline junkies like you are no longer interested in going into the park and passing other people at 80 MPH. You wreck it for others who want to have a relaxing time. The park rangers were out with their radar detectors even in winter.

You are not entitled to be there, there is plenty of raceway for you elsewhere.

[bigdogger]

vikrv wrote:
If folks are looking for a less crowded Yellowstone experience consider visiting in the winter using snowmobiles. Of our 3 Yellowstone visits 2 have been in the winter on snowmobiles. We were skiing in Big Sky, Montana and did Yellowstone as a day trip. Our shuttle bus dropped us off in West Yellowstone for snowmobile gear and then we drove through the streets of W Yellowstone into the park entrance. The first time started out a bit cold at -20F and snowing but warmed up to 0F and the sun came out. The upper geyser basin was even more surrealistic with all the snow. Our 2nd trip on snowmobiles we headed up to Mammoth Hot Springs. Great wildlife viewing with bison and elk as they are hanging around the thermal features.

About 40X more visitors in the summer months than the winter: stats

If you haven't been recently, be aware there have been major changes in the rules regarding snowmobiling in the park. You are now required to be part of a guided tour and the machines are required to be "Best Available Technology" which means 4 stroke engines, which are quieter, cleaner and much less powerful by weight. For an adrenaline junkie like me, worthless. Might as well take a snowcoach tour if all you can do is be part of a group where the slowest person controls what happens. If you get stuck with a person who has to stop and photograph every raven, chickadee or pine tree, the trip closely resembles a trip to a dentist who doesn't believe in novocaine. Thankfully, you can still ride the hundreds of miles of trails outside the park unmolested.

[PghBob]

Agree with the above posts, especially Cody and the museum and would add a couple more points. First, it can snow any month of the year, and has snowed on us once in June. Enough snow to cause the Park Rangers to shut down the part of the park we were in (Canyon), and for my kids to build a snowman. We were "stranded" only for a day, but it can happen without much warning. Secondly, it can get cold overnight even in summer. Last summer we experienced nightly freeze warnings in the park and West Yellowstone, again in June. So, take some winter gear with you. When you go in May, expect that not all facilities will be open, including some dining areas.

Best wishes for a great trip.

Bob

[RambleOnNW]

If folks are looking for a less crowded Yellowstone experience consider visiting in the winter using snowmobiles. Of our 3 Yellowstone visits 2 have been in the winter on snowmobiles. We were skiing in Big Sky, Montana and did Yellowstone as a day trip. Our shuttle bus dropped us off in West Yellowstone for snowmobile gear and then we drove through the streets of W Yellowstone into the park entrance. The first time started out a bit cold at -20F and snowing but warmed up to 0F and the sun came out. The upper geyser basin was even more surrealistic with all the snow. Our 2nd trip on snowmobiles we headed up to Mammoth Hot Springs. Great wildlife viewing with bison and elk as they are hanging around the thermal features.

About 40X more visitors in the summer months than the winter: stats

[Dakzuki]

We were in Grand Teton/Yellowstone last May. They open up the entrances as they can clear them along with various parts of the park. Some was still closed when we were there but there was plenty to see. We had to take the long way form Jackson and go to the west entrance to Yellowstone as the route from Jackson was still closed. There was still ice on the lakes at Grand Teton but it's still beautiful. We had a moose come through the campground. Yellowstone was great with less people there. We got snowed on once overnight but during the days it was nice. We had reservations in Madison campground and drove the toad from there. We drove 100 miles one day just in the park. If you are considering getting a new camera or upgrading, do it before you go to Yellowstone.

[Ray___June]

Be aware that the speed limit in Yellowstone is 45 mph max. They do use radar (I have a Valentine 1 detector) and will enforce the limit. There are many times it will take you 2-3 hours to go 45 miles because of traffic, animal jams, and the many sights to see. Take your time, enjoy the experience, and DON'T set time limits to see the beauty of this park. We've been there over 75 times, and still see something new each time we go in.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We stayed at Yellowstone Valley Inn and Campground on Hwy 14-16-20 18 miles west of Cody and 32 miles to the Yellowstone entrance. Not a fancy park but suited our needs. Easy drive to Yellowstone for the day, or back to Cody. There is also Buffalo Bill State Park on the same hwy (several camping areas). Only a few have electric hookups but they have water available and dump stations. Beautiful area!

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Yellowstone Camping

There are 12 campgrounds inside the park. Five are run by concessionaire Xanterra and can be reserved.

There are fully hookups at Fishing Bridge RV Park - 300+ spots - it is an enhanced parking lot type facility. Some tables - but rigs close together. A bit expensive. Not really the place for a campground in the mountains experience - but some folks like it as a home base.

All the other campgrounds in the park are dry camping - no hookups.

The reservation CG are Madison (278 sites) near the west entrance, Grants Village (430 sites) at the south part of the park near the south end of the lake, Bay Bridge (432 sites) near the center of the park - west side of the lake and Canyon (273 sites) near the fantastic canyon.

Madison, Bay Bridge and Grants have sites for most any size rig - however, you need to go to the Xanterra site and check because there are not a lot of large size rig spots. And they go quickly. Reserve early.

The other seven campgrounds are run by the National Park Service - no reservations - first come first served. Mammoth is the only one open year round, and you must enter the park from the north in the off season to reach Mammoth.

You need to get to one of the NPS campgrounds very early - 9-10 am - to have a pick of good spots.

Tower Falls is size restricted to less than 30 feet, and Lewis Lake is 25' or less.

Recommend you look at the campgrounds with Google Earth or satellite map web site.

[mumkin]

TARDIS TIME TRAVELER wrote:
You might want to consider doing the lower loop of Yellowstone, camping inside if space is available... We found site inside Yellowstone Each time we entered the park.

How are the inside the park spots? There must be a size limit, yes? I assume no hook-ups?

[Islandman]

I'd recommend staying in Cody 1-2 nights and then heading into the park and stay at Madison CG or go to West Yellowstone and stay there. West is a very handly location to see all the stuff in Yellowstone, plan on spending at least 3 days visiting the sites in the park. You can leave via the Grand Tetons and head east over the mountains toward Dubois; or as an alternative head north from West Yellowstone and work your way up to I-90 and go east from there.

[TinyoneRV]

By all means stay in the park if at all possible and stay in or around Cody at least two evenings. It took us two full days to see the museum. Well worth it. We also enjoyed the Big Horn Mountains although the motor home didn't like the uphill grade in 97degree weather. Only time it has over heated. We entered from the south and stayed at the Bridge Bay campground. We are not hikers, but it took us two full days just to drive around the park and see the touristy sites. Don't cut your stay short.

[TARDIS_TIME_TRA]

We did Yellowstone & Cody on our 97 day trip from Virginia to Alaska and the Arctic Circle This year(2013). You might want to consider doing the lower loop of Yellowstone, camping inside if space is available. Leaving and heading to Cody for a couple of days and returning to do the upper loop of Yellowstone. Cody Has a great museum (we took 2 days just at the museum). Yellowstone has something new & interesting around every curve in the road. We found site inside Yellowstone Each time we entered the park.